Closed loop resource distribution platform zone generation and deployment

ABSTRACT

A closed loop processing interaction network in which the resource pool source of the user and the resource pool destination are both within the same organization or group of organizations. As such, resources associated with interactions may be distributed directly between the resource pools. The interactions may occur through communication between user computer systems (e.g., mobile devices, or the like) and/or interaction terminals of product providers (e.g., mobile devices, or the like). The interaction terminals of the product providers may create and allow for the use of interaction zones, which allows for the identification of users that are a part of the interaction network, allows users to receive specialized offers, allows for direct transfer of resources within an organization that by-pass traditional resource processing. The closed loop interaction network improves the processing speeds, memory requirements, security, and costs associated with processing resources related to interactions.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a closed loop resource distributionplatform, and more particularly to a closed loop interaction networkthrough which resources can be distributed in a way that improvesprocessing speeds and reduces memory requirements.

BACKGROUND

Resource processing for interactions typically requires a chain ofvarious systems and entities in order to provide entry points forauthorization, collection of resources, movement of resources alongprocessing rails, gateways for network communications, or the like,which all require large amounts of processing capacity and memorystorage in order to allow for such resource processing, and potentialreturn processing. It is difficult for entities, and more particularly,small entities, to build out the infrastructure to allow for suchresource processing.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodimentsof the present invention, in order to provide a basic understanding ofsuch embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of allcontemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key orcritical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any orall embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one ormore embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

Generally, systems, computer implemented methods, and computer productsare described herein for a resource distribution system that improvesthe processing speeds, memory requirements, security, and costsassociated with processing resources related to interactions. In thepresent application, the system creates a closed loop processinginteraction network, where the resource pool source of the user and theresource pool destination are both within the same organization or groupof organizations. As such, the closed loop processing interactionnetwork may be controlled by a single organization or may be controlledby multiple organizations within a multiple organization member network,either of which create an internal resource transfer processing network.As such, resources associated with interactions may be distributeddirectly between the resource pools of the members (e.g., the users,product providers, and/or one or more organizations) within theinteraction network without having to use the traditional processingnetworks that have a number of issues (traditional processing networksmay also be referred to herein as “traditional processing channels” or“traditional processing rails”). For example, the system describedherein allows for real-time or near real-time transfer of resourceswithout having to wait for approval of such transfers throughtraditional processing networks; allows for reduced storage requirementsbecause details of each interaction and associated resource transfer donot have to be stored at each entity along the traditional processingnetworks; allows for improved security because details of theinteraction are not touched by each entity within the traditionalprocessing network (i.e., reduced chance of interaction or partyinformation being compromised); allows for improved security becauseeach party in the interaction (e.g., user and/or product provider) aremore accurately identified (e.g., the organization and/or interactionnetwork can verify the identity of each party because each party hasresource pools with the one or more organizations within the interactionnetwork); allows for improved resource transfer options because theorganization has a view of both parties in the interaction, and thus canprovide non-traditional resource transfer options; and reduces the costsof resource transfers because the transfer is occurring within a singleorganization (or groups of organizations within an interaction network)outside of the traditional processing networks.

It should be understood that user computer systems (e.g., mobiledevices, or other devices as will be described herein) and/orinteraction terminals of product providers (e.g., mobile devices, orother devices as will be described herein) may be utilized to allow forthe interactions between members of the interaction network. Forexample, the interaction terminals may create and allow for the use ofinteraction zones, which allows for the identification of users that area part of the interaction network, allows users to receive specializedoffers, allows for direct transfer of resources within an organization(or group of organizations) in association with interactions andby-passes traditional resource processing. Moreover, the system allowsproduct providers and users to enter into interactions within aninteraction zone in order to provide resources via identification of auser computer system linked to a resource pool to complete aninteraction as an alternative to physical resources or traditionalprocessing networks.

Embodiments of the invention comprise a closed loop resourcedistribution and interaction zone system, computer implemented method,and computer program product for increasing efficiency of processinginteractions. Embodiments of the invention comprise identifying that auser has entered an interaction zone, wherein the interaction zone isformed by one or more interaction terminals of one or more productproviders. Embodiments of the invention further comprise determiningwhen the user is interested in an interaction with a product providerbased on an action associated with a user computer system of the user oran interaction terminal of the product provider, and determininginteraction information to present to the user based on the interactionin which the user is interested. Embodiments further comprisedetermining when the user belongs to an interaction network with the oneor more product providers, and receiving confirmation from the user orthe product provider to enter into the interaction through the usercomputer system or the interaction terminal. Embodiments furthercomprise identifying resources to transfer associated with theinteraction between a user resource pool and a product provider resourcepool, and transferring the resources from the user resource pool to theproduct provider resource pool of the product provider.

In further accord with embodiments of the invention, the interactionzone is established by the one or more interaction terminals at alocation of the product provider.

In other embodiments of the invention, the interaction zone is awireless zone through which the user connects using the user computersystem to enter into the interaction with the one or more interactionterminals.

In still other embodiments of the invention, identifying that the useris a member of the interaction network comprises identifying that theuser has the user resource pool with one of one or more of theorganizations within the interaction network.

In yet other embodiments of the invention, identifying that the user isa member of the interaction network comprises identifying that anidentifier assigned to the user or the user computer system meets one ofa plurality of identifiers for the interaction network.

In further accord with embodiments of the invention, identifying thatthe user is a member of the interaction network comprises identifyingthat the user computer system of the user is logged into an interactionnetwork application.

In other embodiments of the invention, identifying that the user isinterested in the interaction with the product provider based on theaction associated with the user computer system comprises the usercapturing an interaction identifier from marketing materials or aproduct using the user computer system.

In yet other embodiments of the invention, identifying that the user isinterested in the interaction with the product provider based on theaction associated with the user computer system comprises the usercommunicating with the one or more interaction terminals using the usercomputer system.

In still other embodiments of the invention, identifying that the useris interested in the interaction with the product provider based on theaction associated with the user computer system comprises a userconfirmation of an offer sent by the one or more interaction terminalsto the user computer system through the interaction zone.

In further accord with embodiments of the invention, the one or moreinteraction terminals are one or more point of sale devices, one or moremobile devices of the product provider; and wherein the user computersystem is a mobile device.

In other embodiments, the invention further comprises establishing aninteraction network for users and product providers, whereinestablishing the interaction network comprises identifying the users andthe product providers that have resource pools with one or moreorganizations within the interaction network. Thereafter, sendingnotifications to the users and products providers to join theinteraction network, and grouping the users and the product providers asmembers of the interaction network as the users and the productproviders join the interaction network.

In still other embodiments of the invention, the interaction networkallows for transferring the resources directly between one or moreorganizations within the interaction network without using traditionalresource networks.

In yet other embodiments of the invention, the user computer system is auser mobile device and the interaction terminal of the product provideris a product provider mobile device, and wherein the interaction occursthrough interaction network applications located on the user mobiledevice and the product provider mobile device.

In further accord with embodiments, the invention further comprisesidentifying when the user is a non-member of the interaction network,and providing the interaction information comprises product informationfrom the product provider and a benefit for becoming a member of theinteraction network.

In other embodiments of the invention, receiving confirmation from theuser to enter into the interaction comprises the user joining theinteraction network before entering into the interaction through theuser computer system.

In still other embodiments, the invention further comprises identifyingwhen the user is a non-member of the interaction network, and processingthe interaction through traditional processing interactions when theuser is the non-member of the interaction network.

In yet other embodiments of the invention, providing the interactioninformation comprises providing an offer for a product at a discountover a traditional interaction that occurs outside of the interactionnetwork.

To the accomplishment the foregoing and the related ends, the one ormore embodiments comprise the features hereinafter described andparticularly pointed out in the claims. The following description andthe annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative features of the oneor more embodiments. These features are indicative, however, of but afew of the various ways in which the principles of various embodimentsmay be employed, and this description is intended to include all suchembodiments and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described embodiments of the invention in general terms,reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a resource distribution platformsystem environment, in accordance with one or more embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closed loop resource distribution process, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a closed loop interaction zone resource distributionprocess, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some,but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, theinvention may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of one or more embodiments. It may be evident,however, that such embodiment(s) may be practiced without these specificdetails. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Systems, methods, and computer program products are herein disclosed fora resource distribution system that improves the processing speeds,memory storage, security, and reduces costs associated with processingresources related to interactions. In the present application, thesystem creates a closed loop processing interaction network, wherein theresource pool source of the user and the resource pool destination areboth within the same organization or group of organizations. As such,the closed loop processing interaction network may be controlled by asingle organization or may include a multiple organization membernetwork, which forms an internal resource transfer processing network.As such, resources associated with interactions may be distributeddirectly between the resource pools of the members within theinteraction network without having to use the traditional processingnetworks that have a number of issues. For example, the system describedherein allows for real-time or near real-time transfer of resourceswithout having to wait for approval of such transfers throughtraditional processing networks; allows for reduced storage requirementsbecause the details of each interaction and associated resource transferdo not have to be stored at each entity along the traditional processingnetworks; allows for improved security because details of theinteraction are not touched by each entity within the traditionalprocessing network; allows for improved security because theorganization or groups of organizations have insight into the identitiesof the parties engaged in the interaction; allows for improved resourcetransfer options because the organization has a view of both parties inthe interaction, and thus can provide non-traditional resource transferoptions; and reduces the costs of resource transfers because thetransfer is occurring within a single organization outside of thetraditional processing networks.

It should be understood that user computer systems (e.g., mobiledevices) and/or interaction terminals of product providers may beutilized to allow for the interactions between members of theinteraction network. For example, the interaction terminals may createand allow for the use of interaction zones, which allows for theidentification of users that are a part of the interaction network,allows users to receive specialized offers, allows for direct transferof resources within an organization in association with interactions,and allows for by-passing traditional resource processing. As such, thesystem allows product providers and users to enter into interactionswithin an interaction zone in order to provide resources viaidentification of a user computer system linked to a resource pool tocomplete an interaction as an alternative to physical resources ortraditional processing.

FIG. 1 illustrates a resource distribution platform system environment1, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. As illustrated inFIG. 1, one or more organization systems 10 are operatively coupled, viaa network 2, to one or more user computer systems 20, one or more closedloop resource systems 30, one or more interaction terminals 40, one ormore product provider systems 50, and/or one or more third party systems60.

In this way, the one or more organization systems 10 may be the systemsthat run the applications that the organization uses within theorganization's operations (e.g., that store and process interactionsusing resources from resource pools). The users 4 (e.g., one or moreassociates, employees, agents, contractors, sub-contractors, third-partyrepresentatives, customers, or the like), may include customers,employees of the product providers, employees of the organization, orthe like. The users 4 may use the user computer systems 20 tocommunicate with the other systems and devices (e.g., interactionterminals 40) and/or components thereof. The one or more closed loopresource systems 30 may be utilized to allow the users 4 to enter intoclosed loop interactions with the one or more product provider systems50 through the one or more organization systems 10. The interactionterminals 40 may facilitate the interactions between the users 4 and theproduct provider systems 50, such as through the use of an interactionzone through which the users 4 and/or the product providers maycommunicate, and/or through mobile devices, point of interactiondevices, or other systems, as will be described herein in furtherdetail. The third-party systems 60 may act as an intermediary betweenthe various systems and/or may be other organizations that that belongto the interaction network, which will be described in further detailherein.

As such, the users 4 (e.g., customers, or the like) may use theresources that the users 4 have with the organization to enter intointeractions with the product providers, which may also have resourceswith the same organization (or different organizations within the sameinteraction network). As such, the one or more user computer systems 20may communicate with the one or more product provider systems 50directly and/or through the closed loop resource systems 30, through oneor more organization systems 10, and/or through third party systems 60such that the interactions between the users 4, the organizations,and/or the product providers are completed more efficiently, timely,cost-effectively, and/or with reduced memory and processing speedrequirements, as will be discussed in further detail herein.

The network 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be a global area network (GAN),such as the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network(LAN), or any other type of network or combination of networks. Thenetwork 2 may provide for wireline, wireless, or a combination ofwireline and wireless communication between systems, services,components, and/or devices on the network 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the one or more organization systems 10generally comprise one or more communication components 12, one or moreprocessor components 14, and one or more memory components 16. The oneor more processor components 14 are operatively coupled to the one ormore communication components 12 and the one or more memory components16. As used herein, the term “processor” generally includes circuitryused for implementing the communication and/or logic functions of aparticular system. For example, a processor component 14 may include adigital signal processor, a microprocessor, and variousanalog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and othersupport circuits and/or combinations of the foregoing. Control andsignal processing functions of the system are allocated between theseprocessor components according to their respective capabilities. The oneor more processor components 14 may include functionality to operate oneor more software programs based on computer-readable instructions 18thereof, which may be stored in the one or more memory components 16.

The one or more processor components 14 use the one or morecommunication components 12 to communicate with the network 2 and othercomponents on the network 2, such as, but not limited to, the one ormore user computer systems 20, the one or more closed loop resourcesystems 30, the one or more interaction terminals 40, the one or moreproduct provider systems 50, the one or more third party systems 60,and/or other systems (not illustrated). As such, the one or morecommunication components 12 generally comprise a wireless transceiver,modem, server, electrical connection, electrical circuit, or othercomponent for communicating with other components on the network 2. Theone or more communication components 12 may further include an interfacethat accepts one or more network interface cards, ports for connectionof network components, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors and thelike.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the one or more organization systems10 comprise computer-readable instructions 18 stored in the one or morememory components 16, which in one embodiment includes thecomputer-readable instructions 18 of organization applications 17 (e.g.,web-based applications, dedicated applications, specializedapplications, or the like that are used to operate the organization,which may be internal and/or external applications). In someembodiments, the one or more memory components 16 include one or moredata stores 19 for storing data related to the one or more organizationsystems 10, including, but not limited to, data created, accessed,and/or used by the one or more organization applications 17. The one ormore organization applications 17 may be applications that arespecifically used for operating the organization (e.g., the externaland/or internal operation of the organization), such as by communicating(e.g., interacting with) the one or more user computer systems 20 anduser applications 27, the one or more closed loop resource systems 30and closed loop resource applications 37, the one or more interactionterminals 40 (and applications thereof), the product provider systems 50(and applications thereof), the third party systems 60 (and applicationsthereof), and/or other systems (not illustrated). It should beunderstood that the one or more organization applications 17 maycomprise the applications that are used by the organization to control,monitor, deliver, transfer, or the like, the resources of its customers(e.g., users and/or product provider systems, or the like).

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the one or more user computer systems20 are operatively coupled, via a network 2, to the one or moreorganization systems 10, the one or more closed loop resource systems30, the one or more interaction terminals 40, the one or more productprovider systems 50, and/or the one or more third party systems 60. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, users 4 may use the one or more closed loopresource systems 30 and/or the one or more organization systems 10 toenter into interactions with one or more product provider systems 50through the use of the interaction terminals 40, as will be described infurther detail herein with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3.

It should be understood that the one or more user computer systems 20may be any type of device, such as a desktop, mobile device (e.g.,laptop, smartphone device, PDA, tablet, watch, wearable device, or othermobile device), server, or any other type of system hardware thatgenerally comprises one or more communication components 22, one or moreprocessor components 24, one or more memory components 26, and/or theone or more user applications 27, such as web browser applications,dedicated applications, specialized applications, or portions thereof.The one or more processor components 24 are operatively coupled to theone or more communication components 22, and the one or more memorycomponents 26. The one or more processor components 24 use the one ormore communication components 22 to communicate with the network 2 andother components on the network 2, such as, but not limited to, the oneor more organization systems 10, the one or more closed loop resourcesystems 30, the one or more interaction terminals 40, the one or moreproduct provider systems 50, the one or more third party systems 60,and/or other systems (not illustrated). As such, the one or morecommunication components 22 generally comprise a wireless transceiver,modem, server, electrical connection, or other component forcommunicating with other components on the network 2. The one or morecommunication components 22 may further include an interface thataccepts one or more network interface cards, ports for connection ofnetwork components, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors and/or thelike. Moreover, the one or more communication components 22 may includea keypad, keyboard, touch-screen, touchpad, microphone, speaker, mouse,joystick, other pointer, button, soft key, and/or other input/output(s)for communicating with the users 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the one or more user computer systems 20 mayhave computer-readable instructions 28 stored in the one or more memorycomponents 26, which in one embodiment includes the computer-readableinstructions 28 for user applications 27, such as dedicated applications(e.g., apps, applet, or the like), portions of dedicated applications, aweb browser or other applications that allow the one or more usercomputer systems 20 to perform the actions described herein (e.g.,transfer resources through the interaction terminals 40, closed loopresource systems 30, or the like).

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the one or more closed loop resource systems30 are operatively coupled, via a network 2, to the one or moreorganization systems 10, the one or more user computer systems 20, theone or more interaction terminals 40, the one or more product providersystems 50, the one or more third party systems 60, and/or the othersystems. The one or more closed loop resource systems 30, as will bedescribed in further detail herein, may be utilized to facilitate closedloop resource interactions between users 4 and product providers throughthe one or more organization systems 10 directly with each other(instead of through traditional networks) that are more efficient, andthus, more cost effective, as will be discussed herein. It should beunderstood that the one or more closed loop resource systems 30 may be apart of, and thus controlled by the organization, the product provider,or may be a part of a third party system. As such, the one or moreclosed loop resource systems 30 may be supported by a third-party and/orby the organization.

The close loop resource systems 30 generally comprise one or morecommunication components 32, one or more processor components 34, andone or more memory components 36. The one or more processor components34 are operatively coupled to the one or more communication components32, and the one or more memory components 36. The one or more processorcomponents 34 use the one or more communication components 32 tocommunicate with the network 2 and other components on the network 2,such as, but not limited to, the one or more organization systems 10,the one or more user computer systems 20, the one or more interactionterminals 40, the one or more product provider systems 50, the one ormore third party systems 60, and/or the other systems. As such, the oneor more communication components 32 generally comprise a wirelesstransceiver, modem, server, electrical connection, or other componentfor communicating with other components on the network 2. The one ormore communication components 32 may further include an interface thataccepts one or more network interface cards, ports for connection ofnetwork components, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors and the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the one or more closed loop resource systems30 may have computer-readable instructions 38 stored in the one or morememory components 36, which in some embodiments includes thecomputer-readable instructions 38 of one or more closed loop resourceapplications 37 that allow the users 4 and product providers to enterinto interactions using the user computer systems 20 and the interactionterminals 40 through the one or more organization systems 10 (or the oneor more third party systems 60), as will be described herein.

Moreover, the one or more interaction terminals 40, the one or moreproduct provider systems 50, the one or more third party systems 60,and/or other systems may be operatively coupled to and communicate withthe one or more organization systems 10, the one or more user computersystems 20, and/or the one or more closed loop resource systems 30,through the network 2. The one or more interaction terminals 40, the oneor more product provider systems 50, the one or more third party systems60, and the one or more other systems may have the same or similarcomponents as the one or more organization systems 10, the one or moreuser computer systems 20, and/or the one or more closed loop resourcesystems 30 (e.g., communication component, processor component, memorycomponent—computer readable instructions for applications, datastore),and/or each other in the same or similar way as previously describedwith respect to the one or more organization systems 10, the one or moreuser computer systems 20, and/or the one or more closed loop resourcesystems 30.

It should be understood that the one or more interaction terminals 40may comprise any type of device or component thereof, such as a desktop,mobile device (e.g., laptop, smartphone device, PDA, tablet, watch,wearable device, or other mobile device), server, wireless device,geo-fenced device, beacon, or any other type of system hardware, throughwhich an interaction may occur. Moreover, it should be understood thatthe one or more interaction terminals 40 may be point of interactiondevices (e.g., point of sale devices, or the like). As such, it shouldbe understood that the one or more interaction terminals 40 mayfacilitate the closed loop resource interactions, traditional resourceinteractions, or combinations thereof to allow for interactions betweenthe users 4, product providers, and/or organizations. It should beunderstood that in some embodiments the one or more interactionterminals 40 may be owned and/or provided by the organization (or theinteraction network—combinations of organizations). In some embodiments,the one or more interaction terminals 40 may be able to create aninteraction zone (e.g., through a wired, wireless, or like componentinteraction) through which the interactions can occur between users 4,product providers, and the organization, as will be discussed in furtherdetail herein.

The one or more product provider systems 50 may comprise the systemsthat a product provider uses to enter into interactions with user 4. Forexample, the product provider may be a merchant that provides a product(e.g., goods or services) to users during an interaction, and collectsresources through the one or more organization systems 10. It should beunderstood that both the user 4 and the product provider may haveresource pools (e.g., accounts, or the like) with the organization, andas such, a closed loop interaction network may be created between theusers 4, product providers, and/or one or more organizations (e.g., atwhich the users 4 and product providers have resource pools).Consequently, the closed loop interaction network may allow for thereal-time (e.g., real-time or near real-time) transfer of resources inresponse to an interaction without having to use traditional processingnetworks (e.g., processing channels through multiple entities, or thelike) that are used for the transfer of resources. Traditionalprocessing may include processing interactions through multipleentities, such as one or more entities that provide gateways foraccessing the traditional processing networks, one or more entities forclearing houses, one or more entities for exchanges, one or moreentities for SWIFT processing, one or more entities for credit cardprocessors, one or more entities for holding resources until theinteraction is completed, or other like entities. The present inventionby-passes these traditional processing networks, and thus, the presentclosed loop system has improved processing speeds, reduced memoryrequirements for interactions (e.g., interaction details do not need tobe stored with each entity along each processing network), improvedefficiency (e.g., multiple systems and entities are cut of theinteractions), improved security (e.g., much fewer entities touch—haveaccess to—the interaction data, and the parties in the interaction areknown parties by the organization and/or organizations) and/or reducedcosts due to elimination of processing through entities through thetraditional processing networks.

The third party systems 60 may be systems of other organizations thatmay be part of the interaction network through which the closed loopinteractions may occur. For example, these may include the otherorganizations (e.g., resource organizations, or the like) that holdother resource pools of the users 4 and/or product providers.

It should be understood that traditionally, product providers (e.g.,merchants, or the like) set up an arrangement with an interactionprocessor that is an entry point into the channels for authorizing thetransfer of resources, the collection of resources, and the movement ofresources into product provider resource pools when users enter intointeractions with the product providers. Furthermore, in some instancesthere is an additional resource transfer gateway process for e-commerceinteractions. The resource transfer gateway ensures that the collectionof information (e.g., resource pool information, user information, orthe like) is in compliance with regulatory and security mechanisms. Thechannels do not allow for simple encryption and storage, so many smallerproduct providers employ third parties to handle developing thecomponents and processes needed to enter the interactions (i.e., insteadof trying to develop and build out such systems internally).

It should be further understood that interactions and the associatedresource transfers described herein may include “on-us” and “off-us”interactions. On-us interactions include interactions that only involvea single organization, such that resource transfers occur within thesingle organization (e.g., transferring resources between two differentresource pools of a single user within a single institution, ortransferring resources between resource pools of a first user and aproduct provider within the same organization, or the like).Alternatively off-us interactions require other organizations to beinvolved (e.g., a second financial institution, other entities withinthe processing networks) in order to transfer resources between tworesource pools at two different organizations. With respect to on-usinteractions between users and product providers that both have resourcepools with the same organization, the present invention allows thesetypes of interactions to proceed without having to use the traditionalprocessing networks.

As such, in the present application, the system creates a closed loopprocessing network, where the resource pool source of the user and theresource pool destination are both within the same organization.Furthermore, the closed loop systems may include other organizationnetwork partners to create a membership network with multipleorganizations to create an “on-we” (similar to on-us except there may bemultiple organizations) resource transfer processing network.

Moreover, it should be understood that current resource transfertechnology currently uses Internet based network processing to allowsmall sized product providers that typically operate using physicalresources (e.g., food trucks, family owned stores, farmers market, orthe like) to accept other forms of resource transfers (e.g., creditcards, debit cards, or the like). In some embodiments of the invention,the systems, and in particular, the interaction terminal 40 at the oneor more product providers may create an interaction zone (e.g., zone inwhich users may be identified and/or transfer resources, or the like),which allows a customer to transfer resources in association withinteractions. As such, the system allows the product providers and users4 to enter into interactions to provide resources via identification ofa user computer system 20 at the interaction zone (e.g., identified viabluetooth, NFC, beacon, or the like through the interaction terminal 40)linked to a resource pool to complete an interaction as an alternativeto physical resources (e.g., cash, negotiable instrument, or the like).To identify the user 4, the system may recognize the user 4 as beingassociated with the interaction network and provide the user 4 with theability to enter an interaction through the interaction zone. The systemmay also present specialized offers for the product through the use ofthe interaction network, including the interaction zone. The system mayfurther provide interaction terminals 40 at the product providers toprovide the ability to enter interactions with users 4 through the useof the user computer system 20 and/or interaction terminals 40 withoutadditional equipment with which the user 4 has to interact (e.g.,dongle, touchscreen, or the like attached to a mobile device of theproduct provider).

In this way, the present system creates an ecosystem for e-commercethrough a payment gateway, connecting interaction terminals 40, andcreating a back-end closed loop interaction network (e.g., for members)for expedited interaction processing including resource transfers (e.g.,product provider receives funds in real-time or near real-time) withoutthe necessity or lag time involved in traditional resource transfersalong traditional channels.

The present system provides and alternative interaction terminal 40and/or application therefor, for product providers and/or users 4, whichincreases the speed of the resource transfers, reduces the capacityneeded to allow for the interactions, reduces the costs associated withtraditional processing (e.g., cuts out the traditional entities throughwhich the current resource transfers occur). For example, using an on-usor on-we, or other closed network system, the system may allow a user 4to use the interaction network for resource transfers in order toprevent the costs and other issues associated with traditionalprocessing networks.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process flow for a closed loop resourcedistribution process, in accordance with some embodiments of theinvention. As illustrated by block 102 of FIG. 2, the system identifiesproduct providers for inclusion in the interaction network. For example,this may include identifying product providers (e.g., merchants, such aslarge businesses, small businesses, individuals, or the like) that haveresource pools (e.g., accounts, or the like) with the organization(e.g., financial institution) or with one of the member organizationswithin the interaction network. In some embodiments of the invention theorganization (or member organization) may solicit its client productproviders in order to join the interaction network. The benefits toproduct providers for joining the interaction network include allowinginteractions between the product providers and users (e.g., customers)to occur more quickly than traditional processing (e.g., instantaneouslyin real-time or near real-time), as well as greatly reducing the costsbecause of the reduced storage of interaction information (e.g.,traditional processing rails and infrastructure are not needed, a numberinteraction details do not need to be stored along the traditionalprocessing rails, or the like), and reduced costs from the variousthird-party entities along the traditional processing rails that areomitted.

Moreover, block 104 of FIG. 2 further illustrates that provider tokens(otherwise described as an identifier) may be assigned to the productprovider identified as having resource pools with the organization (or amember organization). The tokens may provide a way to identify theproduct provider and/or a profile of the product provider. For example,one or more tokens may be used to identify a profile for a productprovider that indicates the interaction terminals 40 associated with theproduct provider, the resource pools the product provider has with oneor more organizations within the interaction network, and/or otherinformation associated with the product provider. As such, in someembodiments, the token may be associated with one or more of theinteraction terminals 40 to identify the product provider that isentering an interaction with a user 4. As such, in some embodiments, thetoken may be identified with a particular mobile device or applicationthereof that the product provider is using to enter interactions withusers 4. Alternatively, or additionally, the token may be associatedwith a resource pool that the product provider has with an organizationwithin the interaction network. The token may be any type of indicator(e.g., number, characters, symbols, emojis, pictures, drawings, or thelike) that is use as an identifier. In some embodiments, the token couldbe a resource pool number of the product provider's resource pool.

Block 106 of FIG. 2 further illustrates that the system identifies users4 for inclusion in the interaction network. For example, this mayinclude identifying the users (e.g., individual customers of theorganization) that have resource pools (e.g., accounts, or the like)with the one or more organizations (e.g., financial institution, or thelike). The users 4 may be current customers, or may be potentialcustomers that are sent notifications in order to join the interactionnetwork, as will be discussed in further detail herein (e.g., sendingrandom notifications to join the interaction network, making asuggestion to join the interaction before the user enters an interactionthrough the network, or the like). Moreover, like block 104, the systemmay assign tokens to the users 4, as illustrated by block 108. Thetokens may comprise a way to identify the users 4. For example, one ormore tokens may be used to identify a profile for one or more users 4.The user profile may include the user computer systems 20 associatedwith the users 4, the mobile wallets associated with the users 4, theresource pools the users 4 have with one or more organizations withinthe interaction network, and/or other information associated with theusers 4. As such, in some embodiments, the token may be an identifierassociated with one or more of the user computer systems 20, such as away to identify the user 4 that is entering an interaction with aproduct provider. As such, in some embodiments, the token may beidentified with a particular mobile device or application thereof thatthe user 4 is using to enter interactions with the product provider.Alternatively, or additionally, the token may be associated with aresource pool that the user 4 has with an organization within theinteraction network. The token may be any type of indicator (e.g.,number, characters, symbols, emojis, pictures, drawings, or the like)that is use as an identifier. In some embodiments, the token could be aresource pool number of the user's resource pool.

FIG. 2 further illustrates in block 110 that the system establishes theinteraction network (e.g., before or after identifying the productproviders and/or users 4). The interaction network may include a networkof the users 4 and product providers that have resource pools with theone or more organizations within the interaction network. It should beunderstood that the interaction network may be established in a numberof different ways, including but not limited to, utilizing currentinteraction terminals 40 (e.g., smartphones, laptops, desktops, or othersystems) through which the interaction network may be established and/orconnected to, providing general interaction terminals 40 to productproviders that are able to handle both dedicated interactions throughthe interaction network, as well as interactions through traditionalnetworks (e.g., current resource processing for interactions), providinga dedicated interaction terminal 40 that is specific to interactionsthrough the interaction network (e.g., dedicated point-of-interactiondevice, interaction zone device, mobile device application, or the likethrough which interactions may only be completed through the interactionnetwork), or combinations thereof.

As such, it should be understood that in some embodiments productproviders may enter into interactions with users 4 through Internetenabled interaction terminals 40, such as a smart phones, desktopcomputers, or the like. In this way, the interaction network may bebased on an Internet application accessed through mobile devices,desktops, or other user computer systems 20. For example, a web-basedapplication or a dedicated application accessed through a system, suchas a mobile device, may be created through which a user 4 may enter intoan interaction with a product provider, if the user and product providerhave resource pools with the one or more organizations within theinteraction network. As such, instead of the integration occurringthrough traditional networks (e.g., traditional processing rails, suchclearing housings, exchanges, SWIFT processing, credit card processors,or the like), the interaction and/or resource transfer may occurdirectly within the one or more organizations within the interactionnetwork for which both the user and product provider have resourcepools. The interaction may occur through an app, online bankingapplication, or interaction network application that both the user 4 andthe product provider may access.

Alternatively, in some embodiments the product provider may have one ormore interaction terminals 40 that may comprise point-of-interactiondevices, such as a card reader, mobile device reader, touchscreendevice, near field communication reader, RFID reader, or any other typeof point-of-interaction device, or the like. It should be understoodthat such an interaction terminal 40 may already be utilized by theproduct provider to enter into interactions with users 4 utilizingtraditional processing networks. It should be understood that suchcurrent interaction terminals 40 may be updated with applications thatallow the interaction terminals 40 to be utilized for both traditionalprocessing along traditional processing rails, or for closed loopedinteractions over the interaction network discussed herein. For example,the traditional interaction terminals 40 may be updated with softwarethat allows for the determination that a user 4 has a user resource poolwith the same organization (or otherwise with an organization thatbelongs to an interaction network of multiple organizations) that theproduct provider has a product provider resource pool, and as such, theclosed loop interaction may occur for this particular interaction.

In still other embodiments of the invention, as will be described infurther detail with respect to FIG. 3, the organization my create aspecialized interaction terminal 40 and provide these devices to theproduct providers. The specialized interaction terminal 40 may includeany type of dedicated interaction terminal 40 that allows forinteractions on the interaction network outside of traditional networks,and in some embodiments, may also allow for transactions overtraditional channels when the users 4 do not have resource pools withthe same organization or interaction network as the product provider.Moreover, the specialized interaction terminal 40 may create aninteraction zone through which the user 4 may be identified and/or enterinto interactions with the product provider through the interactionzone, as will be described in further detail with respect to FIG. 3.

It should be understood that the interaction network may be created inorder to allow the product providers and/or the user 4 to enter intointeractions anywhere. As such, the product providers may use stationaryinteraction terminals 40 at stationary locations. Otherwise, theinteraction terminals 40 may be mobile interaction terminals 40 thatallow the product providers, such as mobile product providers, to set upfor interactions using the interaction terminals 40 (e.g., usinginteraction zones, or the like) in any location (e.g., festivals,farmers markets, food trucks, or the like).

Once the interaction network is established, the system may identify auser 4 that is interested in an interaction with the product provider,as illustrated by block 112 of FIG. 2. It should be understood that theidentification of the interest of a user 4 in an interaction may occurin any number of ways. For example, at the location of the productprovider, or otherwise over an Internet connection, the user 4 may takean action with the user computer system 20 that may indicate that theuser is interested in an interaction with the product provider. In oneembodiment of the invention, as will be described in further detail withrespect to FIG. 3, the user 4 may enter an interaction zone (e.g., areadefined by a connection with an interaction terminal 40 of the productprovider, such as wireless network, near-field communication,interaction terminal communication zone, geo-fenced area, or the like).As such, the user computer system 20 may automatically connect (or mayrequire the user to agree to connect) to the interaction terminal 40 ofthe product provider (e.g., interaction zone beacon, wireless network,mobile hot spot, or other like interaction terminal 40 or portionthereof). In this way, the user and product provider may enter into aninteraction in which resources are transferred through the use of theinteraction zone.

In other embodiments, the user action may include allowing the usercomputer system 20, such as a mobile device, to capture information(e.g., scan, take a photo, communicate with an RFID tag, capture aunique barcode, capture infrared information, or the like) from aproduct or material (e.g., marketing materials, brochures, signs,product labels, or the like). In some embodiments this may includecapturing information from an interaction identifier (e.g., any picture,code, character, string of characters, or the like) located on theproduct or product material, or capture information based on the productitself (e.g., image of the product, or the like). For example, in someembodiments the product provider may list a resource amount for aproduct using traditional processing channels, and a discounted resourceamount (or other offer) should the user enter the interaction throughthe interaction network. It should be understood that the productprovider may be able to make such offers (e.g., discounts, add-ons,special transfer options, or the like) due to the increased savingsassociated with transferring resources over the closed loop system(e.g., due to reduced interaction information storage requirements,reduced third-party entities that are required to achieve thetraditional processing, or the like).

In other embodiments, identifying that the user is interested in ainteraction with the product provider may be the user's profile (e.g.,wish list), interaction history (e.g., previous interactions with theproduct provider or other product providers), and/or the location of theuser 4 with respect to product providers (e.g., based on locationdetermining device in the user computer system 20).

Regardless of how the potential interaction is identified, in responseto identifying that a user 4 is interested in an interaction with aproduct provider, the system may identify that the user 4 and/or productprovider are a part of the interaction network. This determination maybe made in order to identify if the user 4 satisfies requirements forparticular offers, as will be described in block 116. In order todetermine if the user 4 and/or the product provider are members of theinteraction networks, the user computer systems 20, the interactionterminals 40, and/or the product provider systems 50 may communicatewith the closed loop resource systems 30 and/or the organization systems10 information that is captured from the user and/or product provider(or the systems associated with each) in order to determine if the user4 and the product provider are part of the interaction network (e.g.,have resource pools at the same institution or with memberorganizations). For example, the tokens associated with the usercomputer system 20 and the product provider (e.g., through theinteraction terminal 40) can be used to determine if the user andproduct provider are a part of the interaction network (e.g., comparethe captured tokens to the stored token values, the profiles of the userand/or product provider, and/or the resource pools associated with theuser and product provider). However, it should be understood that anymethod of authenticating the user and/or the product provider may beused in order to determine if the parties are part of the interactionnetwork.

It should be understood that the system may already automatically haveverified that the product provider is a part of the interaction networkdue to the fact that the interaction terminals 40 are registered withthe system (e.g., closed loop resource systems) as being a part of theinteraction network. For example, the interaction terminals 40 mayinclude the applications that allow for the closed loop interactionsover the interaction network (e.g., as well as traditional interactionprocessing), moreover, in some embodiments the interaction terminals 40may be provided by the organization, and thus, the organization alreadyknows what product providers are part of the interaction network. Assuch, in some embodiments, the system may only have to authenticateand/or identify that the user 4 is a member of the interaction network.It should be understood that in some embodiments the identification ofthe user 4 may be tied to the user computer system 20, application onthe user computer system 20, or the like. For example, the user 4 mayhave resource pools at many institutions, and as such, the user 4 may beusing a resource pool (e.g., a digital wallet, resource pool, or thelike) from a non-affiliated organization that is outside of theinteraction network for the interaction, and thus, the system may not beable to identify that the user 4 is part of the interaction network. Assuch, the identification of the user 4 as member of the interactionnetwork may be required to be made through the identification of the useof the user computer system 20 and not a resource transfer instrument(e.g., credit or debit card, electronic resource transfer pool, or thelike) that is affiliated with a non-member organization. In someembodiments, it should be understood that this step in the process mayoccur before or after the user 4 and the product provider enter into aninteraction.

Block 116 of FIG. 2 illustrates that interaction information may bepresented to the user 4 after the user is identified as having aninterest in an interaction with the product provider, as described withrespect to block 112, and/or the user 4 and/or product provider are partof the interaction network, as described with respect to block 114. Forexample, after the user is identified as being interested in aninteraction with the product provider (e.g., the user is at the locationof the product provider—through the interaction zone, the user scannedinformation about a product, or the like) than the product providersystems 50, the interaction terminals 40, the closed loop resourcesystems 30, and/or the organization systems 10 may provide potentialoffers to the users 4 on the user computer systems 20. For example,information about potential products may be presented to the users 4 onthe user computer systems 20. More particularly, the offers may includeinformation regarding the products for users 4 that are in theinteraction network versus users 4 that are not in the interactionnetwork. For example, since resource transfers that occur through theinteraction network can be made directly through the resource pools atthe organization (or another member organization), the costs associatedwith using traditional resource processing networks is avoided. As such,the product information may include a discount for the product, add-onproducts, future offers, special resource transfer options (e.g., payingusing a checking account, savings account, line of credit, or the like),or the like should the interaction be made through the resource network.Moreover, the resource network may be able to quickly identify theresources that the user 4 has available immediately, and as such, theuser 4 may be approved for an interaction immediately without having towait for approval through traditional processing networks (e.g., theuser may be extended credit based on resource pool information of theuser, or the like). Furthermore, resources can be transferred inreal-time because the resources pools of both entities are located withthe same organization or member organization. As such, there are nocosts or additional resource transfers required for settlement andpositing of resources, because the resources can be transferredinstantaneously within the organization (or within member organizations)because additional third-parties are not involved in the interactions.

Other product information may also be presented to the users 4 on theuser computer systems 20. For example, when the system determines thatthe user 4 is not a part of the interaction network, the system mayprovide a notification to allow the user 4 to join the interactionnetwork in order to achieve benefits associated with entering theinteraction through the interaction network. For example, theorganization may send a notification to allow the user 4 to open aresource pool (e.g., checking, savings, credit line, or other likeresource pool) with the organization in order to be able to takeadvantage of the benefits associated with interactions that occur overthe interaction network.

Block 118 of FIG. 2 further illustrates that the system identifies thatthe user 4 and the product provider have entered into an interactionthrough the interaction network. For example, once the user 4 authorizesa transfer of resources to the product provider, the user computersystems 20, the closed loop resource systems 30, interaction terminals40, and/or the product provider systems 50 will communicate with theorganization systems 10 in order to determine that the user 4 has theresources for the interaction. It should be understood, as previouslydescribed above, when the user 4 and/or product provider may havealready been identified as being a part of the interaction networkbefore entering the interaction, then the one or more systems simplydetermine if the user 4 has the resources in the one or more resourcepools of the user 4 to enter into the interaction. Alternatively, afterdetermining that the user 4 has entered into an interaction with theproduct provider, if the system has not yet determined if the user 4and/or the product provider are a part of the interaction network, thesystem may identify if the user and/or product provider are part of theinteraction network, as previously described with respect to block 114.As such, before the interaction is completed, the system may illustrateto the user 4 the offer associated with the product if the usercompletes the interaction through the interaction network. For example,the system may notify the user 4 through the user computer system 20, orthe interaction terminal 40, of the benefits of entering the interactionthrough the interaction network (e.g., illustrating the discount to theuser for the product). In some embodiments, the user 4 may try to enteran interaction using resources from a resource pools that is outside ofthe interaction network (e.g., an out of interaction network resourcepool), and the system may notify the user 4 that should he/she enter theinteraction through the interaction network the user 4 would receive oneor more benefits.

In some embodiments, it should be understood that the user 4 and productprovider may enter into the interaction through a user mobile device anda product provider mobile device. As previously described, a user 4 maybe identified as interested in a product of the product provider bytaking an action with the user's mobile device (e.g., scanningsomething, entering an interaction zone, or the like), which mayautomatically open an interaction network application on the user'smobile device (e.g., dedicated app, online banking application, or thelike). The application on the user's mobile device may communicate witha corresponding application on the product provider's mobile device inorder to enter into the interaction. As such, it should be understoodthat an interaction network application (or portion thereof) on both theuser's mobile device and the product provider's mobile device may onlybe accessed if the both are members of the interaction network. As such,in some embodiments of the present invention, the interaction may occurbetween the user 4 and the product provider without having to useadditional dongles (e.g., accessories to the mobiles devices such ascard readers, or the like) and over a closed loop interaction networkthat provides improved technical features that result in reduced costsand/or additional benefits to both the users 4 and the productproviders.

As illustrated in Block 120 of FIG. 2, after the interaction iscompleted between the user 4 and the product provider through the usercomputer system 20, the closed loop resource system 30, the interactionterminal 40, and/or the product provider systems 50, the organizationsystem 10 will complete the interaction by transferring resources fromthe user resource pool to the product provider resource pool. Asdescribed herein the resource transfer occurs directly between the userresource pool and the product prover resource pool automatically withouthaving to be processed through the traditional processing channels. Insome embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that beforethe interaction is completed the product provider and/or theorganization may provide the user 4 resource transfer options, such as arequest for the resource pool from which resources should be transferredto the product provider resource pool. For example, the product providerand/or the organization may allow the user 4 to transfer resourcethrough the use of a checking, savings, investment, line of credit, orthe like resource pool of the user 4. In other examples, theorganization may also request to which product provider resource poolthe resources of the user are to be transferred.

As such, in the invention described with respect to FIG. 2, the systemmay utilize the closed loop interaction network to increase processingspeeds (e.g., real-time or near real time transfer), reduce memorystorage requirements for the interactions (e.g., when compared totraditional processing memory requirements), improve security becausethe interaction occurs within a single organization instead oftransferring information through multiple third-party entities (e.g.,each transfer of information is a potential point of a security issue),reduced potential fraud because both resource pools are located at thesame organization (i.e., the organization has a more accurateunderstanding of the identity of the parties), more flexibility inresource transfers because the organization has more information aboutthe user 4 and product provider (e.g., can extend same as cashtransfers, credit lines, HELOC, micro-funding, or like based onrelationships with the users 4 and/or the product providers). All ofthese benefits reduce the cost associated with an interaction, and thus,the product provider and/or the organization can provide additionaloffers to the user 4 and/or the product provider.

FIG. 3 illustrates a closed loop interaction zone resource distributionprocess, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. Asillustrated by block 202 in FIG. 3, a closed loop interaction network isestablished including users 4, product providers, and one or moreorganizations (e.g., a single organization or multiple organizationswithin the same interaction network in which resources may be freelytransferred). The creation of the interaction network may be completedin the same or similar way as illustrated and described with respect toblocks 102 to 110 of FIG. 2. Specifically, the closed loop interactionnetwork may be formed through the use of one or more interactionterminals 40 that are provided to the product providers in order toallow users 4 to connect with the interaction network in order to enterinteractions with product providers. In some embodiments, the one ormore interaction terminals 40 may be a standalone point-of-interactiondevices that allow users 4 to communicate with product providers inorder to enter into interactions. In other embodiments of the invention,the one or more interaction terminals 40 may be accessory devices (e.g.,interaction zone beacons, or the like) that work with other interactionterminals 40 of the product providers (e.g., a mobile device, or thelike).

Block 204 illustrates that the one or more interaction terminals 40establish an interaction zone, through which a user 4 may be identifiedand/or enter into an interaction with a product provider. It should beunderstood that the interaction zone may comprise any way that the oneor more interaction terminals 40 may create a definite or scaled zonefor a product provider through which a user 4 can be identified (e.g.,by connecting to, or otherwise communicating with) in order to enterinto interactions with the user 4. In one example, the interaction zonemay be formed through a wireless network that is created by a point ofinteraction device or a router that communicates with the point ofinteraction device (or a mobile device) of the product provider. Assuch, when a user computer system 20 associated with the user 4 is inrange of the interaction zone, the wireless network communicates withthe user computer system 20 and/or the interaction terminal 40 in orderto identify the presence of the user 4. In other examples, theinteraction zone may be formed by a geo-fenced location (e.g., wiredarea), which when crossed by a user computer system 20 communicates withthe user computer system 20 and/or the interaction terminal in order toidentify the presence of the user 4. In another embodiment of theinvention, the interaction zone may be an RFID, near-field communicationdevice, interaction network beacons, or the like that is used to detectthe presence of a user computer systems 20 of a user 4. In otherembodiments of the invention, the interaction zone may be determined bytriangulated wireless communication devices, global positing tracking ofa user computer system 20, or other like tracking of the location of auser computer system 20 that comes within a defined range of the productprovider (e.g., a mobile and/or stationary product provider).

Regardless of how the interaction zone is created by the one or moreinteraction terminals 40, as illustrated in block 206, the system mayidentify when a user 4 has entered into the interaction zone. Forexample, a user 4 may be automatically identified when the user computersystem 20 of the user communicates with and/or is identified as beingpresent by the interaction zone (e.g., by the one or more interactionterminals 40, product provider system 50, and/or the closed loopresources systems 30). The user 4 may be identified in some embodimentsas previously described with respect to block 112 of FIG. 2 whichdiscusses determining that a user 4 is interested in an interaction witha product provider. As such, an identifier associated with the usercomputer system 20 (e.g., a token, or other type of identifier) may bedetermined automatically (e.g., associated with the device itself, anapplication on the device, or the like), or the user 4 may be requiredto open an application, activate the application, scan and/or captureinformation from a product or material, and/or take another action inorder to allow the interaction zone to identify the user 4 through theuser computer system 20.

Blocks 208 and 210 of FIG. 3 illustrate that after identifying the user(or failing to identify the user) is in the interaction zone, the systemmay determine if the user belongs to the interaction network.Determining if the user belongs to the interaction network may occur aspreviously described with respect to block 114 of FIG. 2. As illustratedby block 208 of FIG. 3, the system may determine that the user 4 in theinteraction zone does not belong to the interaction network. As such,the system may not take any action, and thus, should the user enter intothe interaction with the product provider, the interaction would occurthrough the traditional processing networks. In some embodiments of theinvention, when the user 4 is identified as being a non-member of theinteraction network, a notification may be presented to the user 4 (onthe user computer system 20, on the interaction terminal 40, or thelike) in order to allow the user 4 to join the interaction network byopening a resource pool with a member organization of the interactionnetwork. Block 210 of FIG. 3 illustrates that the system may identifythat the user is a member of the interaction network, as previouslydiscussed with respect to block 114 of FIG. 2, and thus, allow the user4 to access the interaction network to enter an interaction, asdescribed in further detail below.

Block 212 of FIG. 3 illustrates that after the user 4 is identified as amember of the interaction network, the system identifies that the user 4has an interest in an interaction with the product provider. This isdone in the same way as described with respect to block 112 of FIG. 2.For example, the user 4 may capture information using the user computersystem 20 (e.g., scanning a product or materials), making a selection ofproducts that are presented to the user on the user computer system 20(e.g., list of products made available to the user through aninteraction network application), or the like.

Moreover, as illustrated by block 214 the system provides interactioninformation to the user 4 regarding the interaction in which the user 4is interested, as previously described with respect to block 116 of FIG.2. For example, the information may include other offers available tothe user 4 by making the interaction through the interaction network,the benefits to the user 4 by using the interaction network (e.g.,savings versus traditional processing), resource pool options for theuser 4 entering the interaction (e.g., resource transfer, credit lineavailability, HELOC, micro-funding, no interest for a period of time, orthe like).

Furthermore, as illustrated by block 216, the system identifies that theuser 4 and the product provider entered into an interaction through theinteraction network, as previously discussed with respect to block 118of FIG. 2. That is, the user 4 may select a product for the interactionand verify himself/herself in order to enter into the interaction withthe product provider for the product. It should be understood, aspreviously described herein, that entering the interaction may occurdirectly through the communication of the user computer system 20 withthe interaction terminal 40 of the product provider (e.g., directwireless communication between two mobile devices and/or associatedapplications, communication of the user mobile device with theinteraction terminal 40, or the like) without having to use a physicalcard associated with the user 4 and/or a dongle associated with theinteraction terminal 40 of the product provider.

Finally, as illustrated by block 218, the system completes theinteraction between the user 4 and the product provider directly throughthe organization, as previously discussed with respect to block 120 ofFIG. 2.

It should be understood that the present invention can be used for anyusers 4 (e.g., customers) and any product providers (e.g., merchants).However, it should be understood that the interaction network may beespecially beneficial for small businesses, cash businesses, and/orgroups of small businesses. Small businesses do not have the resourcesto build out the systems and applications for in-person and/ore-commerce interactions between the users 4 and the small businesses. Assuch, small businesses typically have to contract with and/or interactwith multiple third parties to complete the interactions with users,which increases the time it takes to complete resource transfersassociated with interactions (e.g., may take days for resource transfersto clear), increases the costs for the small businesses (e.g., paymentshave to be made to each of the third parties along the traditionalprocessing rails), and requires storage of the interaction and resourcetransfer details along the various processing entities, which increasesthe amount of memory storage for each interaction. Unlike traditionalprocessing, the present invention provides a closed loop system thatdoes not require the businesses to contract with and/or interact withmultiple third parties to complete the interactions with users 4, whichdecreases the time it takes to complete resource transfers (e.g., mayoccur in real-time or near-real time), decreases the costs for the smallbusinesses (e.g., payments occur directly between accounts at the sameinstitution outside of traditional processing rails), reduces storagerequirements because the interactions and resource transfer details onlyneed to be stored at the organization that holds the resource pools,and/or improves security because the organization has a relationshipwith each party (e.g., users have user resource pools and productproviders have product provider pools with the same organization). Assuch, the present invention provides improvements over traditionalinteraction systems.

It should be understood that the systems described herein may beconfigured to establish a communication link (e.g., electronic link, orthe like) with each other in order to accomplish the steps of theprocesses described herein. The link may be an internal link within thesame entity (e.g., within the same organization) or a link with theother systems. In some embodiments, the one or more systems may beconfigured for selectively responding to dynamic inquires. These feedsmay be provided via wireless network path portions through the Internet.When the systems are not providing data, transforming data, transmittingthe data, and/or creating the reports, the systems need not betransmitting data over the Internet, although it could be. The systemsand associated data for each of the systems may be made continuouslyavailable, however, continuously available does not necessarily meanthat the systems actually continuously generate data, but that a systemsare continuously available to perform actions associated with thesystems in real-time (i.e., within a few seconds, or the like) ofreceiving a request for it. In any case, the systems are continuouslyavailable to perform actions with respect to the data, in some cases indigitized data in Internet Protocol (IP) packet format. In response tocontinuously receiving real-time data feeds from the various systems,the systems may be configured to update actions associated with thesystems, as described herein.

Moreover, it should be understood that the process flows describedherein include transforming the data from the different systems (e.g.,internally or externally) from the data format of the various systems toa data format associated with a particular display. There are many waysin which data is converted within the computer environment. This may beseamless, as in the case of upgrading to a newer version of a computerprogram. Alternatively, the conversion may require processing by the useof a special conversion program, or it may involve a complex process ofgoing through intermediary stages, or involving complex “exporting” and“importing” procedures, which may convert to and from a tab-delimited orcomma-separated text file. In some cases, a program may recognizeseveral data file formats at the data input stage and then is alsocapable of storing the output data in a number of different formats.Such a program may be used to convert a file format. If the sourceformat or target format is not recognized, then at times a third programmay be available which permits the conversion to an intermediate format,which can then be reformatted.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in view of thisdisclosure, embodiments of the invention may be embodied as an apparatus(e.g., a system, computer program product, and/or other device), amethod, or a combination of the foregoing. Accordingly, embodiments ofthe invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software,micro-code, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardwareaspects that may generally be referred to herein as a “system.”Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may take the form of acomputer program product comprising a computer-usable storage mediumhaving computer-usable program code/computer-readable instructionsembodied in the medium (e.g., a non-transitory medium, or the like).

Any suitable computer-usable or computer-readable medium may beutilized. The computer usable or computer readable medium may be, forexample but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, ordevice. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer-readable medium would include the following: an electricalconnection having one or more wires; a tangible medium such as aportable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or othertangible optical or magnetic storage device.

Computer program code/computer-readable instructions for carrying outoperations of embodiments of the invention may be written in an objectoriented, scripted or unscripted programming language such as Java,Pearl, Python, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer programcode/computer-readable instructions for carrying out operations of theinvention may also be written in conventional procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages.

Embodiments of the invention described above, with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods or apparatuses(the term “apparatus” including systems and computer program products),will be understood to include that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a particular machine, such that the instructions, which executevia the processor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create mechanisms for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instructions, whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions, which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus, provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specifiedin the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. Alternatively,computer program implemented steps or acts may be combined with operatoror human implemented steps or acts in order to carry out an embodimentof the invention.

Specific embodiments of the invention are described herein. Manymodifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth hereinwill come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the inventionpertains, having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoingdescriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments andcombinations of embodiments are intended to be included within the scopeof the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

To supplement the present disclosure, this application furtherincorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assignedpatent applications:

U.S. patent application Docket Number Ser. No. Title Filed On8656US1.014033.3299 To be assigned CLOSED LOOP RESOURCE ConcurrentlyDISTRIBUTION PLATFORM herewith 8658US1.014033.3301 To be assigned CLOSEDLOOP PLATFORM Concurrently FOR DYNAMIC CURRENCY herewith CONVERSION

What is claimed is:
 1. A closed loop resource distribution andinteraction zone system for increasing efficiency of processinginteractions, the system comprising: one or more memory componentshaving computer readable code stored thereon; and one or more processingcomponents operatively coupled to the one or more memory components,wherein the one or more processing components are configured to executethe computer readable code to: identify that a user has entered aninteraction zone, wherein the interaction zone is formed by one or moreinteraction terminals of one or more product providers; determine whenthe user is interested in an interaction with a product provider basedon an action associated with a user computer system of the user or aninteraction terminal of the product provider; determine interactioninformation to present to the user based on the interaction in which theuser is interested; determine when the user belongs to an interactionnetwork with the one or more product providers; receive confirmationfrom the user or the product provider to enter into the interactionthrough the user computer system or the interaction terminal; identifyresources to transfer associated with the interaction between a userresource pool and a product provider resource pool; and transfer theresources from the user resource pool to the product provider resourcepool of the product provider.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein theinteraction zone is established by the one or more interaction terminalsat a location of the product provider.
 3. The system of claim 2, whereinthe interaction zone is a wireless zone through which the user connectsusing the user computer system to enter into the interaction with theone or more interaction terminals.
 4. The system of claim 1, whereinidentifying that the user is a member of the interaction networkcomprises identifying that the user has the user resource pool with oneof one or more of the organizations within the interaction network. 5.The system of claim 1, wherein identifying that the user is a member ofthe interaction network comprises identifying that an identifierassigned to the user or the user computer system meets one of aplurality of identifiers for the interaction network.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein identifying that the user is a member of theinteraction network comprises identifying that the user computer systemof the user is logged into an interaction network application.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein identifying that the user is interested inthe interaction with the product provider based on the action associatedwith the user computer system comprises the user capturing aninteraction identifier from marketing materials or a product using theuser computer system.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying thatthe user is interested in the interaction with the product providerbased on the action associated with the user computer system comprisesthe user communicating with the one or more interaction terminals usingthe user computer system.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein identifyingthat the user is interested in the interaction with the product providerbased on the action associated with the user computer system comprises auser confirmation of an offer sent by the one or more interactionterminals to the user computer system through the interaction zone. 10.The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more interaction terminals areone or more point of sale devices, one or more mobile devices of theproduct provider; and wherein the user computer system is a mobiledevice.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processingcomponents are configured to execute the computer readable code to:establish an interaction network for users and product providers,wherein establishing the interaction network comprises identifying theusers and the product providers that have resource pools with one ormore organizations within the interaction network; sending notificationsto the users and products providers to join the interaction network; andgrouping the users and the product providers as members of theinteraction network as the users and the product providers join theinteraction network.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactionnetwork allows for transferring the resources directly between one ormore organizations within the interaction network without usingtraditional resource networks.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein theuser computer system is a user mobile device and the interactionterminal of the product provider is a product provider mobile device,and wherein the interaction occurs through interaction networkapplications located on the user mobile device and the product providermobile device.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or moreprocessing components are further configured to execute the computerreadable code to: identify when the user is a non-member of theinteraction network; and wherein providing the interaction informationcomprises product information from the product provider and a benefitfor becoming a member of the interaction network.
 15. The system ofclaim 14, wherein receiving confirmation from the user to enter into theinteraction comprises the user joining the interaction network beforeentering into the interaction through the user computer system.
 16. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components arefurther configured to execute the computer readable code to: identifywhen the user is a non-member of the interaction network; and processthe interaction through traditional processing interactions when theuser is the non-member of the interaction network.
 17. The system ofclaim 1, wherein providing the interaction information comprisesproviding an offer for a product at a discount over a traditionalinteraction that occurs outside of the interaction network.
 18. Acomputer implemented method for a closed loop resource distribution andinteraction zone system for increasing efficiency of processinginteractions, the method comprising: identifying, by one or moreprocessor components, that a user has entered an interaction zone,wherein the interaction zone is formed by one or more interactionterminals of one or more product providers; determining, by the one ormore processor components, when the user is interested in an interactionwith a product provider based on an action associated with a usercomputer system of the user or an interaction terminal of the productprovider; determining, by the one or more processor components,interaction information to present to the user based on the interactionin which the user is interested; determining, by the one or moreprocessor components, when the user belongs to an interaction networkwith the one or more product providers; receiving, by the one or moreprocessor components, confirmation from the user or the product providerto enter into the interaction through the user computer system or theinteraction terminal; identifying, by the one or more processorcomponents, resources to transfer associated with the interactionbetween a user resource pool and a product provider resource pool; andtransferring, by the one or more processor components, the resourcesfrom the user resource pool to the product provider resource pool of theproduct provider.
 19. The computer implemented method of claim 18,wherein the interaction zone is established by the one or moreinteraction terminals at a location of the product provider.
 20. Acomputer program product for a closed loop resource distribution andinteraction zone system for increasing efficiency of processinginteractions, the computer program product comprising at least onenon-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable programcode portions embodied therein, the computer-readable program codeportions comprising: an executable portion configured to identify that auser has entered an interaction zone, wherein the interaction zone isformed by one or more interaction terminals of one or more productproviders; an executable portion configured to determine when the useris interested in an interaction with a product provider based on anaction associated with a user computer system of the user or aninteraction terminal of the product provider; an executable portionconfigured to determine interaction information to present to the userbased on the interaction in which the user is interested; an executableportion configured to determine when the user belongs to an interactionnetwork with the one or more product providers; an executable portionconfigured to receive confirmation from the user or the product providerto enter into the interaction through the user computer system or theinteraction terminal; an executable portion configured to identifyresources to transfer associated with the interaction between a userresource pool and a product provider resource pool; and an executableportion configured to transfer the resources from the user resource poolto the product provider resource pool of the product provider.